Method of producing a fabric and fabric

ABSTRACT

A manual process is described for producing a fabric wherein a plurality of parallel warp threads are arrayed on a cardboard thread frame. Multicolored surface yarns are associated with respective ones of said warp threads. The fabric is produced by pulling one of the end surface yarns across the warp threads and successively knotting each of the remaining surface yarns with the end yarn where the end yarn intercepts the warp threads. The knots are formed by bringing the surface yarn over the end yarn, underneath the end yarn and warp thread, and back over the end yarn toward where the next row will be formed. After each row is formed, either of the end surface yarns may be used as the common yarn for the next row. The pattern of the fabric is determined by this selection of end surface yarns.

United States Patent [1 1 Gruenberg 451 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] METHOD OF PRODUCING A FABRIC AND FABRIC Selma Gruenberg, 63 Concord St., Clifton, NJ. 07013 [22] Filed: June 23, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 155,759

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney-Darby & Darby [57] ABSTRACT A manual process is described for producing a fabric wherein a plurality of parallel warp threads are arrayed on a cardboard thread frame. Multicolored surface yarns are associated with respective ones of said warp threads. The fabric is produced by pulling one of the end surface yarns across the warp threads and successively knotting each of the remaining surface yarns with the end yarn where the end yarn intercepts the warp threads. The knots are formed by bringing the surface yarn over the end yarn, underneath the end yarn and warp thread, and back over the end yarn toward where the next row will be formed. After each row is formed, either of the end surface yarns may be used as the common yarn for the next row. The pattern of the fabric is determined by this selection of end surface yarns.

6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEUJMI 9 ms 3. 709,090

INVENTOK SELMA GRUENBERG BY 206; f (924%,

ATTORNEYS METHOD OF PRODUCING A FABRIC AND FABRIC The present invention relates to a method for making a fabric type product and, more particularly, to a manual process which may be practiced by children and adults alike. The invention is designed for individual, as opposed to industrial, use as a hobby or craft and it enables the production of a virtually unlimited number of designs using a single basic knot or stitch.

The basic object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple process which will enable the production of fabrics of many varying designs. The process is not, technically speaking, a knitting or weaving process and is believed to be closest to macrame. In practice, as described below, individual surface yarns are knotted about warp threads in a simple way which can quickly be learned by children. As will also become apparent from the following description, the knots themselves are of such physical characteristics that a geometric pattern can be formed depending upon the way in which the individual knotted rows are formed. Consequently, the user can follow relatively simple instructions to produce highly attractive and apparently complex designs of the type which cannot be presently produced except by relatively difficult procedures using a number of different stitches.

The method and article according to the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawing which shows in semi-diagrammatic form a portion of a fabric as it would be produced on a typical loom according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, a thread frame is shown at 10. Frame 10 may comprise a plain sheet of cardboard having top slots S1 through S25 and bottom slots S1 through S25. A thread is woven through these top and bottom slots to form 25 (for example) warp threads 'Wl through W25. In the following description and claims, although a single thread is actually used, it is deemed to constitute a plurality of individual warp threads.

Also, in the description and claims, the fabric is considered to consist of a plurality of rows of knots. The term knot is not intended to define a particular relationship between the yarns and warp threads, but has been selected because the surface yarns are tied together around an individual warp thread in a way which is similar to a common half-hitch knot.

For purposes of description, a specific example will be considered in which red and green yarns indicated by the letters R and G are used as the surface yarns. Thus, as indicated in the drawings, where 25 warp threads WI through W25 are employed, 26 individual surface yarns are employed. Red and green surface yarns R1 and G1 are secured within slot S1 of loom 10. The remaining red and green surface yarns are arranged alternately in adjacent slots S, that is, red surface yarns R2, R4 R24 are secured in slots S2, S4 S24, respectively, while green surface yarns G3, G5 .G25 are secured within respective slots S3, S5 S25.

In the specific example illustrated in the figure, the red surface yarn R1 at the left end of the thread frame is pulled across the top of all of the warp threads W1 through W25. The remaining surface yarns, starting successively with yarn G1, are then knotted with the end yarn R1 at each intersection of yarn RI and a warp thread. Thus, starting at the left-hand edge, the end of G1 is brought over R1, under R1 and W1, and then over R1 and down toward where the next row will be formed. In the identical way, the next knot is formed by tying R2 and R1 around warp thread W2. This knotting process is continued across the entire row until the last knot is formed between surface yarn G25 and end yarn R1 about warp thread W25. The knot is tied from right to left when the row is formed from left to right. That is, in the first row, each individual knot is made by pulling the end of a surface yarn toward the left side of the fabric.

After the first knotted row has been formed, the user can form the next row by carrying either of the new end surface yarns G1 or R1 across the warp threads as the common yarn for the next row. For purposes of this example, the left-end yarn G1 is used to form the next row so that the second row is formed in the same way as the first row, that is, form left to right. Again, the individual knots are formed in the identical way. After these two rows have been formed, the surface yarns will have shifted in position by one warp thread to the left. That is, for example, G25 which was originally associated with warp thread W25 will be adjacent the warp thread W24, and so forth, with R2 now associated with warp thread WI. The original left-end surface yarns R1 and G1 will lie adjacent the right-hand warp thread W25. Thus, where the knotting process has proceeded from left to right (as just described) for successive rows, each of the surface yarns becomes automatically shifted one position to the left.

After the second knotted row has been formed, the left-end surface yarn is R2 and the right-hand surface yarn is G1. For purposes of description, the third row is shown as formed from right to left rather than left to right as described above. Accordingly, the right-end surface yarn G1 is brought from right to left over the warp threads W. The first knot in this third row is then formed at the intersection of G1 and W25 by tying with surface yarn R1. The next successive knot again going from right to left is formed by tying G25 and G1 around warp thread W24. ln each case, the knot is the same, that is, the surface yarn is placed over the endyarn G1 then underneath the end yarn and the warp thread, and finally back over the end yarn toward where the next adjacent row will be formed.

At the end of the third row the knot is formed by R2 and G1 tied about warp thread W1. Consequently, after reversing directions of row formation, the left-end surface yarn again becomes G1 and the right-end surface yarn again becomes R1. If the fabric is examined, it is apparent that where the direction of row formation is changed, the individual surface yarns remain associated with the same warp thread. That is, for example, R1 is associated with-warp thread W25 after the second rowhas been formed going from left to right. After the third row is formed going from right to left, R1 remains associated with W25. Hence, where there is a change in row direction, the surface yarns remain in the same relative position.

The fourth row is shown as formed in the same direction as the third row, i.e., from right to left. In this instance, where successive rows are formed from right to left, the surface yarns will shift position from left to right. That is, for example, surface yarn R2 moves from warp thread W1 to warp thread W2, and so forth.

The change in position of the surface yarns as described above provides three possible effects, and, where different color threads are used, the shift in position of the yarns can be utilized to produce a geometric design. Thus, where the rows are formed from left to right, the movement of the surface yarns from right to left will cause a diagonal striped pattern as shown by arrow 22. Conversely, where the rows are formed from right to left, the diagonal stripes will appear to run from left to right as shown by arrow 23. Where the direction of the rows is alternated, i.e., first left to right and then right to left (or vice versa), the stripes will appear to be vertical as shown by arrow 24.

By varying the selection of surface yarn colors, and the sequence of row formation, a virtually limitless variety of geometric designs can be provided in the finished fabric. Since the specific designs per se do not form a part of this invention, instructions for particular designs and illustrations of such designs are not included herein.

For purposes of clarity, the fabric illustrated in the drawing has been shown as a loosely knotted fabric. In fact, in the preferred embodiment, the knots are pulled tight and the fabric is entirely opaque with none of the warp threads being visible. When the knots are tied between the selected end yarn and surface yarns, the end yarn will not remain straight as diagrammatically shown in the drawing. For the most part, the pattern of the stripes consists of the surface yarns but in places, small portions of the common yarn are also visible. As each knot is tied it is pulled tight so that the pattern development can be observed as the fabric is finished. The spacing of the warp threads will be dependent to an extent on the size of the diameter of the surface yarns although, obviously, such matters do not constitute a part of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of making a fabric wherein a plurality of warp threads are secured on a thread frame and there is at least one surface yarn associated with each of said warp threads, comprising selecting one of the surface yarns at an end of the loom to be used as a common yarn to form a row of knots, with the common yarn on top of said warp threads, successively knotting successive surface yarns with said common yarn at respective intersections of said yarn row and said warp threads to form a row of knots, and

similarly forming successive rows of knots.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said knots are formed by placing each of said successive surface yarns over said common yarn, then under said common yarn and the associated warp thread, and then back over said common yarn and toward where the next knotted row is to be formed.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the said common yarn is selected depending upon the desired pattern.

4. A fabric comprising a plurality of parallel warp threads,

at least one surface yarn associated with each warp thread, with one or more of said yarns extending generally transversely across the top of said warp threads from an end of the fabric, said transversely extending yarns formmg a plurality of common yarns, and

a plurality of knots formed at the intersection of said warp threads and common yarns, each said knot comprising a surface yarn crossing over a common yarn, back underneath the common yarn and warp thread at the corresponding intersection, then up and over the yarn row and toward the next adjacent row.

5. A fabric according to claim 4, wherein said surface yarns are of different colors.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein each line is formed by pulling the surface yarn toward the end from which the associated common yarn was taken. 

1. A method of making a fabric wherein a plurality of warp threads are secured on a thread frame and there is at least one surface yarn associated with each of said warp threads, comprising selecting one of the surface yarns at an end of the loom to be used as a common yarn to form a row of knots, with the common yarn on top of said warp threads, successively knotting successive surface yarns with said common yarn at respective intersections of said yarn row and said warp threads to form a row of knots, and similarly forming successive rows of knots.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said knots are formed by placing each of said successive surface yarns over said common yarn, then under said common yarn and the associated warp thread, and then back over said common yarn and toward where the next knotted row is to be formed.
 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the said common yarn is selected depending upon the desired pattern.
 4. A fabric comprising a plurality of parallel warp threads, at least one surface yarn associated with each warp thread, with one or more of said yarns extending generally transversely across the top of said warp threads from an end of the fabric, said transversely extending yarns forming a plurality of common yarns, and a plurality of knots formed at the intersection of said warp threads and common yarns, each said knot comprising a surface yarn crossing over a common yarn, back underneath the common yarn and warp thread at the corresponding intersection, then up and over the yarn row and toward the next adjacent row.
 5. A fabric according to claim 4, wherein said surface yarns are of different colors.
 6. A method according to claim 2, wherein each line is formed by pulling the surface yarn toward the end from which the associated common yarn was taken. 